Apparatus for generating water-gas.



No. 703,619. Patented luly I, |902.

H. STRACHE.

APPARATUS- FUR GENERATING WATER GAS.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 19.00.)

(No ModeL) WITNESSES: lNVlE-NTOR.

TH: mums 1L-rens ce., PHOTO-nwo., wAsnmeTou. u. e.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

HUGO sTRAcnE, or VIENNA,AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING WATER-GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,619, dated July 1, 1902. Application fled. October 31,1900. Serial No. 35.008. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern: Y

Be it known that I, HUGO STRACHE, general manager, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at 4.9 Alserstrasse, Vienna, VIII, in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for Generating Water Gas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the generating of water-gas; and its object is to provide an improved apparatus whereby any suitable fuel, even such in a granular state, may be utilized for generating water-gas. While in the manufacture of Water-gas from incandescent carbon and steam as heretofore generally practiced shaft-furnaces had to be used, in which the fuel was contained at a height of from three to ten feet, so that a blower or blast apparatus was required in heatingl the same, I employ in my improved apparatus a stepgrate furnace, such as D, the fuel here being used in layers of fromy four to twenty inches thickness only and the combustion of the same for heating the furnace taking place under the action of the natural draft of the chimney. Y

My invention therefore consists in an improved apparatus for generating gas, and particularly water-gas,constructed substantially as will be hereinafter fully described and finally embodied in the claim. l

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my.

improved apparatus; and Fig.2 is a view show-v ing the apparatus as seen from the front end thereof, being partly in elevation and partly in section. v.

An open or reticulated body of fire-clay R, (or .tubes of fire-clay,) situated in the furnace D opposite the surface of the grate F, consisting of a series of grate-bars f, disposedin step-like arrangement, is heated to incandescence by the gases of combustion, and the greater portion ofthe heat generated is thus stored away, as by a regenerator.

- maining portion of the heat of the gases of combustion is utilized for heating an evaporator V, containing pieces of cast-iron, pret'- erably of a tubular or any other suitable shape, the gases of combustion finally passingl into the chimney by way of the opened escape gas-valveA. The regulation of the The refire is effected by partially opening the doors T or T belowr and above the grate, respectively. As soon as the fuel has become thoroughly heated to a state of incandescence and the evaporator raised to a temperature of above 100D centigrade a thin layer of fresh fuel is filled in at the door T, whereupon the closely-fitting doors T and T and the escape gas-valve A are closed, the latter being preferably water-sealed. The newly-added fuel is immediately caused to generate gas, partly under the action of the incandescent layer of fuel below and partly by the radiation of heat from 'the incandescent body of fire-clay R. I at the same time admit Water into the evaporator by way of the pipes w w w. The water evaporates in coming into contact with the heated pieces of cast-iron, the steam thus generated passing the regeneratorRand ultimately striking the fresh fuel in a stronglysuperheated condition, so as to assist in the charring or coking of the same. The products of distillation mixed with the steam then pass through the incandescent fuel on the step-grate F, already charred or coked previously, and are here decomposed, together with the surplus quantity of steam, thus becoming transformed into Water-gas. The latter escapes at g by way of a water seal or siphon into the conduit which communicates with the reservoir. Instead of admitting water at w 'w I may also there admit steam. In this case the space V, provided for the evaporation of the Water, serves for the superheating of the steam. The thorough decomposition of the steam in spite of the thin layer of fuel and the comparatively low temperature is obtained by making the area of the grate-surface F very large and the quantity of water admitted during a unit of time very small, so that the speed of the steam at F will be small. Upon completion of the generation of gas-that is to say, upon the supply of water having been shut olf-the escape gas-valve and the doors T' and T are opened, whereupon the heating of the apparatus will begin anew.

In order to increase the output or working capacity-of the apparatus, a blast of air may be admitted at g during the period of heating.

IOC

In this case I preferably make use of the explosions in changing from heating to gasgenerating.

It will be observed that in my apparatus the fuel-support F, the heat-storing medium R, and the evaporator V are disposed in a relatively horizontal disposition and that the furnace itself is horizontally attenuated. This facilitates the attaining of complete and proper results from the action of the steam on the fuel when the former is driven back through the fuel. In previous constructions these parts have been arranged in a relatively vertical disposition, an arrangement which was not only impractical, because it is more difficult to force a heated gas downwardly than to force it horizontally, but actually less perfect in the results obtained.

The advantages derived in the use of my improved apparatus as compared with those heretofore employed may be briefiy enumerated as followsthat is to say: first, greatest simplicity and cheapness of plant, as steamboilers, blowers, and driving-power for the latter may be dispensed with, as also a scrubber, on account of the 10W speed of the gas; second, greatest simplicity in working, since there is but one valve and the water-feed to be attended to; third, the usual double-closing feed-hopper may be dispensed with, since there is no pressure in the furnace during the heating period; fourth, easy removal of slags at the doors T T; fifth, since there are no valves and surfaces requiring packing there is no necessity for repairs apart from an incidental exchange of the filling R of the regenerator and of the grate-plates at F; sixth, economy in the utilization of the heat, since the heat of the escaping gases is used for the generation of steam; seventh, moderate height and limited ground space; eighth, adaptability of fuel of all kinds, even of such in a granular condition or With liability to agglomerate ninth, the lining is made solely of fire-clay of the usual shape, no (molded pipe-stones.)

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination, with a horizontally-attenuated inclosure having a fuel-snpply inlet and an outlet lfor the generated gas, of an inclined f nel-support and an evaporator, means for introducing into the inclosure the fluid to be evaporated, and a reticulated heat-storing medium comprising a series of horizontally-extending tubes disposed longitudinally of said inclosure, said fuel-support having a relatively large supporting area and the heat-storing medium being disposed in close proximity to the top or fuel side thereof, and said fuel-support, the heat-storing medium and the evaporator being arranged relatively horizontal in saidinclosure, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGO STRACHE. Witnesses:

ROBERT SUCHAUCK, ALvEsTo S. HoGUE. 

